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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/shortepistleaddrOObick 


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SHORT  EPISTLE 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  PEOPLE, 
WHO  ARE  CALLED 

B  A  P  T  I  S  I    S, 

SCATTERED  OVER  THE 

UNITED  STATES, 

AND  MOST  PARTS  OF  THE 

CHRISTIAN  WORLD. 


3y  JAMES  B  I  C  K  E  R  S  T  A  F  F, 

PREACHER  TO  THE  BAPTISTS, 


PRINTED  IN  THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD, 
1810, 

Price,  6    CentfJrrg!:~zo  Cents  per  dozer.. 


3K7$^^5&3&K!&3$0&Stf3&5t^^3$S3*S;  ^3& 


SHORT  EPISTLE, 


ft.  TIMOTHY,  il.  7. 

Confider  <mh#t  I  fay  ;   and  the  Lord  give  thte  underJarJIng 
in  all  things, 

MY  DEAR  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST, 

LOVE  to  your  fouls  is  the  only  apology  I  make  for 
faying  a  few  words  for  your  confideration.  It  is  with  pain 
£hat  I  am  constrained,  at  any  time,  to  admmifter  reproof  to 
the  dear  followers  of  Chrift.  It  has  long  grieved  me  to  the 
heart,  to  fee  things  among  my  beloved  brethren,  which  may 
not  only  bring  upon  them  reproach,  but  alio  wound  the  cauie 
they  wiih  to  fupport. 

We  are  called  Baptists:  and  this  name  has  been  given  to  ire 
on  account  of  our  differing  from  others,  in  the  mode  and  rub- 
ject  of  baptifm.  But,  dear  follower  of  Jefos,  nair.es  will  not 
make  us  fincere  chriftians.  Our  doing  well  in  fubmitting  to 
the  will  of  God  in  gofpel  inftitutions,  v.  u\  not  juftify  our  fin- 
ful  departure  from  the  fpirit  and  practice  of  our  holy  rdlgidr- 
— It  is  our  glory,  that  we  follow  Chrift  down  the  banks  of 
Jordan,  and  are  buried  with  him  by  baftifm  unto  death.  Br- 
ought we  not  feriouily  to  confider,  whether,  after  honorably 
copying  the  example  of  Chriit  in  baptifm,  we  do  not  neglect: 
to  put  on  £hrift  practically. 

My  beloved  brethren  !  Give  me  leave  to  exhort  yon  to 
coafidcr  feveral  things. 


(     4     1 

i.  What  means  the  prevalent  bitternefs  of  our  brethren* 
towards  other  proftfltd  chriftians,  who  differ  from  us  in  the 
doctrine  of  baptiim  only.  I  am  often  told,  and!  it  grieves  me  to' 
fay  it,  that  fome  of  our  brethren  are  going  from  place  to  place 
ufing  harfh  and  bitter  words  towards  Congregational  Churches. 
They  feem  to  make  it  their  bufinefs  to  fay  hard'  things  ®f 
them,  and,  in  fome  cafes,  I  am  told,  to  curfe  them.  Even 
fome  of  our  Deacons  are  diftTnguifhed  for  their  forwardnefs 
in  reproaching,  cenfuring,  and  condemning  Congregational 
people.  It  would  feem  by  their  bitter  words,  that  they  hod 
a  peculiar  hatred  to  them.  Is  this  the  fpirit  of  Chrift  ?  Are 
we  following  the  example  of  our  Divine  Matter,  in  being,lib- 
eral  of  reproachful  exprefiions  ?  Is  it  the  character  of  a  faint, 
or  of  an  impenitent  (inner,  which  is  deferibed  in  Romans  in. 
14.    HTiofe  mouth  is  full  ofcurfing  and  bitternefs  ? 

Dear  Chrift  ian  brethren,  when  the  mind  is  much  inflamed, 
^nd  the  intereft  of  a  party  predominates,  we  are  in  danger  of 
teeftowing  our  cenfures  with  no  referve.  In  fuch  a  ftate  of 
mind,  we  are  under  ftrong  temptations  to  fpeak  falfly.  And 
j 8  it  not  a  fact,  that  fome  of  our  beloved  brethren,  do  fay 
things  in  the  heat  of  pafiion,  which  they  would  not  fay 
in  a  cool  moment  ? 

We  feem  to  be  a  religious,  zealous  people,  if  zeal  for  the 
doctrine  of  baptifm  w ill  entitle  us  to  a  religious  character. 
But,  do  we  feem  to  be  a  religious  people  in  the  government 
of  our 'tongue  ?  If  any  man  among  you  feem  to  be  religious  and 
bridkth  ?:ot  bis  tongue,  but  decehetb  bis  oivn  beart,  this  man's 
religion  is  tain.  1  fay,  confider,  whether  our  correct  fenti- 
meats  upon  the  mode  and  the  fubject  of  baptifm  will  juftify 
us  in  the  practice  of  bitternefs,  vpratb,  anger,  clamour  and  evil 
fpeaking  ?  By  our  becoming  Baptifts  does  it  become  our  of- 
fice, to  adminifler  cenfures,  and  utter  hard  words  towards 
thofe    who    differ  from  ufi  ,?     Have  *ve  fs  learned  Ghrijl  ? 


(    5    ) 

Clirtft  wa3  meek  and  lowly  in  heart.  Are  we  as  zealous  t« 
imitate  the  meeknefs  of  Chrift,  as  we  are  to  cenfure  and  cor.  ■ 
demn  our  oppenents  ?  Our  brethren,  in  feme  inftance~,  h&\z 
united  with  Univerfalifts,  in  ere  cling  houfes  for  public  wot* 
fhip.  An  injudicious  ftep  in  my  opinion.  This  ciicumftacce 
with  others,  has  given  fome  people  reafon  t©  think,  that  v.  - 
are  more  friendly  to  Univerfalifts  than  to  Congregationalifts, 
and  on  this  account  we  have  been  taken  to  be  a  felfifb-,  rather 
than  a  religious  people.  Even  impenitent  finners  love  thofe 
who  love  them.  It  is  natural  for  feififh  people  to  be  friendly 
to  thofe,  who  make  no  oppofition  to  them.  If  then  we  love 
Univerfalifts  better  than  we  do  Congregationaiifts,  we  in  do- 
ing this,  do  no  more  than  impenitent  finners  would  do.  In 
my  foul  I  believe  that,  of  all  claiTes  of  men.  in  fociety,  the 
adherents  to  a  political  faction  not  excepted,  fome  of  our 
brethren  are  the  molt  diftinguimed  for  evil  fpeakip.g,  (Under 
and  backbiting,  But,  if  ye  ham  bitter  envying  and  ft  rife  injqur 
hearts,  ghry  not,  and  lie:  not  agair.jl  the  trtt  I 

Dear  followers  of  the  Lamb  !  It  grieves  n:e  much,  lo» 
think,  that  the  precious  children  ef  God  fltpuJd  bring  reproach 
upon  our  holy  religion  by  indulging  themfelvj;  in  a  fpirit  of 
bicternefs  towards  their  fellow  creatures,  I  feci  concerned  for 
them,  left,  while  they  are  fo  zealcmly  engaged  in  detailing  the 
faults  of  others,  they  ftiouid  neglect  the  care  of  their  own 
fouls- 

2.  Gonfider  feriou  fly,  what  means  the  great  parade,  which 
is  made  among  our  people,  in  administering  baptifm.  It  is  no 
uncommon  praclice,when  two  or  three  perfeni.  arc  to  be  bap- 
tized, for  our  brethren  to  fend  many  mii-es,  fometimps  into 
other  ftates,  for  one  of  our  Elders  to  come  and  officiate  on  the 
occafion.  And  at  the  fame  time,  to  give  public  notice  of  the 
intended  meeting,  that  as  many  people  might  Le  fawn  ID* 

A  2 


(     6    ) 

- .»'ther  as  pofiibie.  This  would  be  ju  ft  in  able,  in  cafe  they 
had  no  Elder  among  them  to  adminifter  the  ordinance  ;  but 
they  fend  abroad  for  other  Elders,  when  they  have  them  in 
their  own  town,  and  even  in  their  neighborhood..  But? 
beloved  in  the  Lord !  The  Apoftles  of  Jefus  did  not  fo> 
We  take  them  to  have  been  good  Baptijls  ;  but  they  were  not 
*mh  Baptijis  as  we  are.  When  Phillip*  was  called  to  baptize  the 
Eunuch,  did  he  fend  abroad  for  afliftance  I  Did  he  wait  fome 
days  to  give  fufficient  time  for  the  neighboring  inhabitants  to 
be  noticed  of  the  baptifm,  that  they  might  come  together  to 
fee  the  performance  I  No  ;  he  was  content  to  baptize  him  in 
ihe  public  road,  in  a  place  of  obfcurity,  and  without  any  to 
vyitnefs  the  tranfaction  but  thofe  who  were  with  him.  When 
Paul  and  Silas  baptized  the  Jailor,  they  found  it  convenient  to 
baptize  him  the  fame  hour  of  the  night  in  which  he  believed. 
They  had  no  purpofe  to  anfwer  by  delaying  it,  to  fome  future 
day,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  invite  the  neighboring  people  to 
jcme  and  fee  the  adminiftration.  When  Ananias;was  directed 
:o  e-r  uhe  in  a  certain  flreet  for  Saul,  he  obeyed,  and  without 
.ail  parade,  Saul  was  baptized.  In  this  baptifm  there 
io  delay  of  the  bufinefs ;  no  appearance  of  defigo.  to  make 
it  .T.ore  public  than  the  nature  of  the  cafe  required. 

When  Peter  preached,  fuccefsfully,  at  the  houfe  of  Corne- 
bse  found  proper  fubjects  of  baptifrn,  and  immediately 
•r.ked,  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  thattbefejhould  not  be  bcp- 
tized  ?  And  be  commanded  them  to  be  baptized,  in  the  name  of 
ihe  Lord.  Our  practice  in  adminiftering  baptifm  is  a  depar- 
ture from  apoSolie  firrrplicity,  and  juftifies^  the  conclufion, 
that  we  have  purpofcs  to  anfwer,  which  the  apoftles  had  not ; 
and  however  fmeere  we  may  be,  in  conducting  this  bufinefs, 
wc  fball  certainly  be  confidered  as  feeking  to  avail  ourfelves 
of  thofe  occasions  to  make  profelytes  to  our  party.  Why 
nee*i  we  make  fo  much  parade  in  admiaiftering  baptifm- 1 


(     7     ) 

Does  humility  make  a  public  (hew  of  its  triumphs,  and  call 
together  multitudes  to  witnefs  its  glory  ! 

3.  Con flder  what  awful  deluGons  may  be  occaGoned  by 
our  mifguided  zeal.  Many  of  our  dear  brethren  feem  to  be 
zealous  in  prefting  perfons  to  go  forward  in  fome  of  the  dutis3 
of  religion.  They  urge  them  to  receive  baptifm,  as  if  baptifm 
were  a  faving  ordinance.  Some  alk  even  thofe  who  appear  to 
have  no  religion,  whether  they  would  not  feel  better  to  be 
baptized ;  and  fome,  when  they  have  been  baptized,  have 
gone  about  telling  how  well  they  have  felt  fince  they  have 
been  baptized.  Many  feem  as  zealous  in  perfuading  people 
to  go  into  the  water,  as  if  baptizing  them  were  fccuring  their 
falvation. 

It  has  been  obferved  by  judicious  hearers  of  other  denom- 
inations, that  fome  of  our  preachers  are  extremely  cautious 
of  prefling  upon  chriftians  the  dur/  of  felf-examination„ 
They  feem  to  exhauft  their  zeal  in  faying  encouraging  things^ 
and  in  fome  cafes,  they  virtually,  and  in  others  cxprefsly 
pronounce  perfons  chriftians.  A  raih,  and  dangerous  ftep> 
In  my  opinion  ;  for  finners,  who  art  pronounced  chriftiaiW, 
will  readily  adhere  to  the  idea,  that  they  are  what  they  zxc 
pronounced  to  be.  What  means  this  hafle  in  urging  perfons 
fo  hard  to  fubrait  to  baptifm  ?  Is  it  to  fecure  them  in  the  Bag.- 
lift  caufe  ? 

Not  long  ago  orfe  of  our  preachers,  in  his  zeal  told  fever* 
al  perfons,  then  about  to  be  baptized,  that  u  nothing  but  the 
efficacious  grace  of  God  could  bring  them  to  follow  Chrift, 
as  they  were  now  doing."  In  fhort  he  told  them,  that  "  their 
forfaking  their  former  finful  companions  and  now  appearing, 
In  readiness  to  receive  baptifm,  was  certain  evidence  that  they 
were  the  fubje&s  of  the  faving  grace  of  God."  How  dan= 
gercus  it  :s  to  flatter  pccpk  !  Hew  wicked  it  i$  to  m&&>Q 


(     8     ) 

h\em  when  the  object  in  fo  doing  is  to  make  them  Bapti'fts  t 
If  men,  in  the  days  of  bloody  perfecution,  did  profefs  Chrifr, 
and  in  fome  inftanccs,  when  chained  to  the  flake,  did  re- 
nounce their  religion,  it  is  certainly  poffible,  in  times  of  tran- 
quility for  Onners  to  profefs  Chrift,  and  yet^be  deflitute  of 
the  faving  grace  of  God.  The  Apoftles  of  our  Lord  did  not 
flatter  men.  They  did  not  tell  them,  that  merely  their  for- 
faking  the  multitude  of  their  finful  afibciates  and  profeffing 
Chrift  was  certain,  infallible  evidence  of  their  having  the 
faving  grace  of  Godi  They  warned  them  of  the  danger  of 
felf  deception.  They  had  no  felf  interefted  purpofes  to  an- 
fwer  by  encouraging  people  to  make  hafte  in  religion.  Mak- 
ing men  Baptifts  does  not  neceffarily  make  them  true  chrif- 
tians  :  and  altkough,  we  maintain  there  is  no  baptifm  but  im~ 
merfion,  yet  merely  the  circumftance  of  being  dipped  in  wa- 
ter, does  not  avail  to,  falvation,  w^iile  the  fubjecl  of  it  is  art 
impenitent  finner.  Simon  the  forcerer  was  baptized,  and 
yet  remained  in  the  gall  of  bitternefsy  and  bond  of  iniquity. 
My  foul  trembles,  to  think,  that  many  poor  finner6  are  in 
danger  of  being  made  to  believe  they  are  the  dear  children 
of  God,  while  they  are  gciBg  the  road  to  hell.  Gain  is  not 
godlinefs. 

4.  Con fidcr,  that  great  zeal  in  matters  of  lefs  importance; 
and  no  zeal  in  the  weightier  matters  of  religion,  is  one  of  the 
ftrongeft  evidences  of  hypocrify.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  ma- 
ny of  our  brethren,  are  mvich  more  zealous  about  the  doctrine 
of  baptifm,than  they  are  for  the  good  of  fouls.?  In  my  heart,  I 
believe,  that  the  water  has  in  it  a  cbarm>  in  the  eyes  of  fome  of 
them.  Kow  char-using  it  is,  they  cry,  to  follow  Chrift  into  the 
water  !  As  if  following  Chrii^in  this  command,  was  fweeter  to 
the  foul,  than  following  him  in  other  commands.  Sweet  Jefus  \ 
•  all  thy  commands  are  precious  in  the  eyes  of  thy  followers  * 
.Wb*t  joeaas  that  excefijve  zeal  in  feizing  perfons  by  the- 


(    9    J 

hand,  and  leading  them  to  the  water  to  be  baptized,  ttfieli 
they  had  not  deliberately  made  up  their  mind  to  be  baptized  ? 
Zeal,  which  is  in  great  difproportion  to  the  object  is  ufuall? 
falfe  zeal.  To  be  zealous  in  the  extreme  about  religious  oid> 
nances,  and  not  zealous  for  the  converfion  of  fouls,  is  great 
evidence  of  hypocrify.    Is  there  a  merit,  a  faving  efficacy  at- 
tached to  the  performance  of  any  duty,  be  it  done  as  it  may, 
either  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  God,  or  witrrfelf  intereftcd 
motives  \  Behold,  to  obey  is  better  thanfacrifice.  My  confciesce 
compels  me  to  do  you  an  act  of  kindnefs,  in  warning  you 
againft  falfe  zeal.    Is  it  not  true,  dear  brethren,  that  whiifc 
ibme  of  you  are  a  zealous  people,  in  fupport  of  Baptifm,  that 
you  are  cold  and  unfeelicg  in  the  duty  of  prayer  and  other 
religious  fervices  ?  Are  not  fome  ready    to  pray  in  public 
meetings,  who  negleft  both  family  and  fecret  prayer  T  What 
fliall  I  fay  to  you  ?  What  will  the  world  fay  of  you  ?  Zeal  in 
one  duty,  and  coldnefsin  another  !  Zeal  to  pray  in  public  and 
no  zeal  to  pray  in  fecret !  This  grieves  my  foul.  I  tremble  for 
you  :  you  make  me  think  of  ancient  hypocrites,  ivie  Irved  to 
pray  Jfanding  in  tkefynagoguet  and  in  the  corners  ofj?reets}  that 
tbey  might  be  feen  of  men*     You  make  me  think  of  Ephraim. 
Epbraim  is  a  cake  net  turned ;  raw  on  the  one  fide,  baked  on 
the  other.      Be  not  deceived.     Doing  one   duty   will  not 
atone  for  the  fin  of  neglecting  other  duties.  Our  being  zealous 
about  fome  religious  duties,  and  negligent  of  other  impor- 
tant duties,  is  a  reproach  to  us.      O,  make  it  manifeft>  thai 
jo*  are  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  a!!  good  works. 

5.  Con  fider,  what  menns  the  cry  of  perfecutioa,  fo  often 
heard  among  our  brethren,  Are  they  imprifoned  ?  Are  they 
chained  to  the  flake  I  It  is  frequently  faid,  "  We  exped  to 
fuffer  pertecution.  Chrift  was  perfecuted."  What  is  this 
but  faying,  "  We  are  like  Chrift  ;  and  expect  to  be  treated, 
at  he  was  treated."     Is  this  humility,    or  fclf  exaltation^ 


(  KJ  } 

£imf  and  Silas  when  imprifoned  for  their  religion  did  n'of 
make  this  complaint.  To  the  trembling  Jailor,  they  preached 
falvation  by  Chrift.  They  might  have  made  the  complaint 
of  being  perfecutcd  with  more  propriety  than  we  can.  The 
A  ponies  of  our  Lord  rejoiced  that  they  were  counted  wor- 
thy tofuffer  fhame  for  his  name.  They  exhibited  humility, 
under  the  hand  of  perfecution,  a  fpirit  very  different  frorre 
complaining  of  perfecution,  when  we  have  fuftained  no  injury* 

Much  is  faid,  at  times,  by  fome  of  our  beloved  brethrett 
about  taking  up  the  crcfs  in  baptifm.  How  abfurd  is  it  t<3> 
boaft  of  taking  up  the  crofs,  in  doing  a  duty,  which  we  have 
pleafure  and  joy  in  doing  ?  Is  it  taking  up  the  crofs,  for  a  man* 
to  do  offices  of  kindnefs  to  his  wife  and  children,  whom  he 
loves  as  himfelf  ?  What  is  this  boafting  but  vain  glory  I 

C  Confider  the  danger  of  our  being  rain  and  prefumptu> 
©us  in  our  confidence,  that  we  are  perfectly  corre&  in  our 
notions  of  baptifm.  If  we  are  the  only  people  in  the  world, 
who  embrace  the  gofpel  fyftem,  in  refpcct  to  the  mode  an<3 
fubject  of  baptifm,  it  becomes  us  to  be  humble  and  thankful. 
If  the  Lord  has  given  us  only  a  true  and  right  underftanding 
©f  thefe  things,  we  ought  to  blefs  his  holy  name,  and  walk. 
humbly  before  him* 

According  to  our  faith,  we  are  conftrained  to  refufe  com- 
munion with  other  profeiTed  chriuians.  We,  and  not  they 
bar  the  door  of  communion'.  Now,  if  we  are  the  only  people 
in  the  world,  who  are  correct  in  our  notions  of  baptifm,  it 
concerns  us  to  be  modeft  in  our  opinion  and  practice.  The 
Lord  doe3  blefs  the  labors  of  fome  who  differ  from  us.  The 
Lord  does  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon  fome  who  difagree  with. 
us  upon  baptifm.  To  us  it  is  myfterious,  that  the  Lord 
&ould  own  and  blefc  a  people    fo  erroneous    as  they  ax^ 


who  oppofe  us  «pon  the  fubjects  and  mode  of  baptifin.  W^ 
confider  it  among  the  unfearchable  things  of  God,  that  he 
fho&ld  grant  feafons  of  refrefhing  from  his  prefence  to  a  peo- 
ple who  difobey  fome  of  his  exprefs  commands.  We  do 
rot  own  them  as  churches  of  Chrift.    But  s 

What,  if  after  all  our  confidence  in  the  correclnefs  of 
«ur  opinion,  it  mould  prove  that  we  have  erred,  in  matters 
lefs  efiential  to  falvation  ?  What,  if  after  all  our  bold  and 
pofitive  declarations,  the  church  of  God,  in  its  future  profper- 
ous  ftate,  fhoukl  not  adopt  our  faith  refpefting  baptifm,  but 
fhould  give  encouragement  to  infant  fprinkling ;  neglecting 
to  ufe  the  only  mode  we  deem  effential  to  baptifin  ? 

I  {hall  be  cenfured  by  fome  of  our  dear  brethren,  In  what  I 
lha.ll  now  declare.  I  have  no  doubt,  that  infant  fprinkling,  fo 
called,  without  interruption,  has  been  in  ufe  among  profefTed 
chriftian*  from  a  very  early  period  of  chriftianity.  Some  of 
our  eminent  divines  have  called  it  one  of  the  corruptions  of 
popery  ;  but  I  think  without  reafon.  Antiquity  has  furnifh- 
ed  us  with  abundant  teftimony  in  fupport  of  the  ufe  of  infant 
iprinkling,  in  the  early  ages  of  the  golpel  church. 

What  then,  if  the  time  mould  come,  when  the  whole  church 
of  God  mould  difagree  with  us  in  baptifin,  and  give  fupport 
to  the  practice  which  our  opponents  maintain  1  If  then,  this 
is  barely  poflible,  and  who  can  fay  it  is  not  ?  then,  in  what 
light  fliall  we  appear,  in  our  bold,and  in  fome  cafes,  overbear- 
ing expreflions  concerning  baptifm  ?  If  then  we  are  right,  as 
we  truft  we  are,  let  us  be  meek  and  humble,  and  be  cautious, 
that  we  are  not  inttmperately  ralh.  If  it  be  poflible,  that  we 
may  be  found  wife  above  what  is  written,  let  us  beware  of 
taking  a  (land,  which,  in  future,  will  do  us  no  honor.   In 


<      M      J 


i  ftfl  ia  all  oiht~  things,  let  us  give  heed  to  Jefus  who  faid, 
Teh  my  yoke  upon  cu,  and  ham  of  me  ;  for  lam  meek  and 
k:^j  tn  heart. 

Beloved  m  the  Lord— conGder  what  1  fay— Far iweli. 


-rw^ 


